Float control



Patented Aug. 7, 1945 PATENT t OFFICE FLOAT CONTROL Otto Thiel,

Application July 29,

1 Claim.

This application relates to float controls and more particularly to lioat controls responsive to liquid level for operating a snap action device, such as a valve for gas-charged-liquid devices, such as carbonators.

In a prior application, Serial No. 446,949, led June 13, 1942, there is shown a valve needle raised and lowered with snap action by a iioat control including two hollow balls slidably mounted on an operating rod connected to and raised and lowered by the balls, and also connected to the needle by a snap action mechanism. In this application, for raising and lower ing rod 36 and valve needle 3|, I have provided a float control comprising two cups, the lower one of which is fastened to the rod 36, andthe upper one of which, inverted, is slidably mounted on rod 36.

The float control of my invention -is shown in the appended drawing.

In this drawing,

Fig. l shows a device containing my float control.

Fig. 2 diagrammatically illustrates `the connection between the operating rod 36 and the valve needle 3|, established through a snap action mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a section View showing the iloat control in greater detail. l

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

The drawing shows a tank itl having its open upper end closed by a base supporting a water and gas inlet tube l2 connected to an inlet pipe |4'and a charged water outlet tube I5 connected to an outlet pipe I6. The base has an opening i9 into which threads a venting tube 2D having a ventI hole 22. Opening |9 is adapted to be closed by a needle valve 3|, and forms a valved gas vent for the tank.

Valve needle 3| is operated to open orv close, with a snap action, on low or high level of 'the water in the tank, by a float controlled snap action mechanism consisting of an operating rod 36 pivotally connected at 3l to a link 38 pivoted on a stationary pivot 39 andconnected by a tension spring 4I) to the end 4| of a link 42 pivoted on a stationary pivot 43 and connected at 44 to the needle valve 3|. As rod 436 drops or rises, the needle 3| will drop or rise to open or close the vent opening I9.

For controlling thetravel of the rod 36, there is slidably mounted thereon an upper inverted annular cup 41 and there is fastened thereto a lower cup 48. The rod has an abutment nut 49 threaded on it above cup 4l, and the latter has a supporting strap 50 resting on plate 5| Detroit, Mich.

1943, Serial No. 496,603

soldered to tubes i2 and l5. A strap 50 is provided with a hole 52 through which freely passes rod 36.

Operation The lower cup 42|` is always full of water, and therefore has added weight unless it is submerged. When not submerged, its weight will pull rod 65 down and lower needle 3|, permitting gas to escape from tank I6, whereupon water will enter through pipes 4 and I2. The rising water level raises upper cup 4l' against stop 49 to raise rod 36 and needle 3|, to close opening I9 with a snap action. As charged water is drawn from the tank, the` level drops and cup 4l will no longer be buoyant and will drop, without however pulling down on rod 36 or needle 3|. As the level continues to drop, below cup 48, the latter will drop and pull down rod 36 and needle 3|.

Strap 5G supports cup 4l on plate 5| when the cup is not supported by the level of the water.

The float control herein shown is better than the hollow ball construction of my prior application Serial No. 446,949 because it is noncollapsible. The hollow balls of my prior construction tend to collapse under high pressure. The cups herein shown do not collapse, despite their being made of thin sheet metal for lightness.

Now having described the improvements herein disclosed, reference should be had to the claim which follows.

I claim:

A iioat control for operating a snap action device comprising an operating rod connected to said device and arranged to be reciprocated vertically for diierent operations of said device, a chamber for receiving a liquid, an open top,

closed bottom, cup'iastened to the lower end of the rod within the chamber, an open bottom, closed top, oat above the cup and slidably mounted on the rod within the chamber, an abutment on said rod above the iloat arranged to be engaged by the float when the liquid level rises so that rise of the iloat will liit the rod, the

float having means free of the rod for limiting its downward movement and said oat being completely free of the snap action device except 5o for said engagement with the abutment on the rod, whereby said iloat on rising may lift the rod and operate the device but on falling will not lower the rod nor operate the device and said cup will fall and operate said device when the water level falls below said cup.

. OTTO THIEL. 

